President of National House of Chiefs , the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV has denied issuing any statement to condemn NDC flag bearer Mr John Dramani Mahama on the Agyapa Royalties controversy.

It comes after the King of the Asogli kingdom was linked to a statement purported to have come from the Regional House Chief condemning the former president for sharing a statement written by the MP for Bolga Central Honourable Isaac Adongo.

Togbe Afede has called  on the public to disregard publications while asking the police to investigate the source of the press release.

According to the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, the publication which made rounds on Tuesday is extremely mischievous, untrue and must be disregarded.

Togbe made the statement while addressing a sitting of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday, 2nd September 2020.

“I want to use the opportunity to condemn without reservation and in no uncertain terms, three fake publications -two of which in the name of the Volta House of Chiefs and the third one in the name of the National House of Chiefs," he said.

"In the first publication, the Volta house of chiefs were alleged to have blasted the NDC and alleged that we have said that we are tired for the NDC. The second one was labeled “Announcement to all Voltarians,” which was supposedly from Volta chiefs to the effect that, since 1992 the Volta region has supported the NDC party because of former President Jerry John Rawlings and that we have nothing from our support

“I have issued a press statement in the name of the Asogli State to disassociate myself from those publications because some of the came with my picture so we have written deny that any such statement was issued by Chiefs of the Volta region."

He said neither the House of chiefs nor himself have made any comments on it on the controverial Agyapa deal, but questioned the relevance of it.

“But only yesterday, a third one made the rounds and was carried by various channels Ghanweb, Myjoyonline, Graphic Online et cetera; some of them probably found out later that it was fake and they promptly removed same. It was titled: “House of Chiefs condemned ethnocentric comments shared by John Dramani Mahama.” Again, this publication came with my name but this one went further to forge the letter head of House of Chiefs. This is extremely mischievous and needs to be condemned without any reservations and in no uncertain terms,” he said.

Togbe stated that he felt hurt by attempts to use his name to legitimize the Agyapa royalties agreement, while stating that the case has been reported to the police for action to be taken on such forgeries.

“I, in particular, I’m very much hurt by the attempt to use my name to grant legitimacy to a transaction that has been widely condemned for its secrecy and for the fact that the company involved [Agyapa] was incorporated in a tax haven. I do not see why desperation would lead anybody associated with that transaction to want to use the name of the innocent Togbe Afede XIV. I have never commented on this transaction and I have decided not to comment for good reasons,”* he stated.

Commenting further on the deal, Togbe Afede said, “Even the Attorney General has issued a statement that showed disapproval on this transaction. Tax havens basically serve two purposes; helping you to avoid tax or ensure secrecy, I don’t see why a national transaction should become a secrecy in the first place.”

“But more important for me, is the attempt to use my name and the national house of chiefs to grant legitimacy to this transaction. The national house of chiefs would issue a statement promptly to deny that this ever emanated from the house.”